Victorians! discussion

I participated in a Buddy Read discussing Thomas Hardy's "Return of the Native". I found the only adaptation on YouTube from the late 1980s1994. I am baffled why there has not been a new production since then.

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "I participated in a Buddy Read discussing Thomas Hsrdy's "Return of the Native". I found the only adaptation on YouTube from the late 1980s. I am baffled why there has not been a new production sin..."

I found these on Wikipedia but not sure where you might find them now to watch or listen to:-

The Return of the Native was filmed for Hallmark Hall of Fame and broadcast on television in 1994. It was filmed in Exmoor National Park. The film stars Catherine Zeta Jones as Eustacia Vye, Clive Owen as Damon Wildeve, Ray Stevenson as Clym Yeobright, and Joan Plowright as Mrs. Yeobright. Jack Gold directed.[7]

In 2010 an Americanised film adaptation of The Return of the Native was directed by Ben Westbrook. It is set in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1930s during The Great Depression.[8]

The novel has also been adapted for the stage several times. Dance on a Country Grave is a musical stage adaptation by Kelly Hamilton.

On June 15, 1948 a radio adaptation featuring Michael Redgrave aired on CBS's Studio One.

The one I viewed was the 1994 version. My memory failed me on the date. Thank you.

Two adaptations I would like to see would be Shirley by Charlotte Brontë and Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Shirley has only ever been filmed once, in 1922. Not only is there plenty of action but the houses and many of locations referenced in the book are still available to be used in a movie/TV production.

Apparently there was a four part series of Mary Barton in 1964 dramatised by the BBC but all four episodes have been lost. Some of the action scenes taking place in Manchester and Liverpool would adapt very well to the screen. The book’s major themes include inequality and the widening poverty gap. A few years ago I saw a small scale production by a local theatre company (Mikron Theatre) which was excellent.

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. They never did a proper adaptation in the sound era. There were one or two silent versions that sounded closer, but they’re lost.

I was really hoping to see an adaptation of North and South after our group read last spring. I found one from the 80's(?) listed that I was unable to access.

I was really hoping to see an adaptation of North and South after our group read last spring. I found one from the 80's(?) listed that I was unable to access.

There is the 2004 BBC adaptation of "North and South". One of the best ever produced.

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "There is the 2004 BBC adaptation of "North and South". One of the best ever produced."

I have to agree again. The 2004 adaptation is an excellent depiction of the story with first rate acting from the lead characters. It was available for a long time on BBC iplayer for those who could access it, but not any more. Here is a link to the series at IMDB.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417349/

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "There is the 2004 BBC adaptation of "North and South". One of the best ever produced."

Yes, that adaptation absolutely did fulfill my expectations.

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "There is the 2004 BBC adaptation of "North and South". One of the best ever produced."

Agreed! For my part, I don't want ever to see another adaptation of it. :)

It is probably of no use to make a new adaptation of Wuthering Heights. They all seem to fail. The only one I liked was the one from 1939 with Laurence Olivier.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032145/

I would call the 1939 "Wurthering Heights" a half adaptation because it stops at Cathy's death leaving out the rather disturbing and violent 2nd half of the novel.

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "I would call the 1939 "Wurthering Heights" a half adaptation because it stops at Cathy's death leaving out the rather disturbing and violent 2nd half of the novel."

Yes, that is what happened. I couldn’t remember what it was that was lacking.

I wish there was an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's "Villette".

I don’t think that any of Anne Radcliffe’s novels have ever been adapted for film or TV. I would particularly like to see ‘The Italian’ as well as her most famous, ‘The Mysteries of Udolpho.’ Maybe that kind of Gothic novel wouldn’t be popular at the cinema or on TV at the moment. I know some TV adaptations have been made of Northanger Abbey ( I haven’t seen them) but I don’t know of a movie ever being made.

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "I wish there was an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's "Villette"."

Yes I would like to see Villette. Yet again the BBC produced a TV series in 1970 but I haven’t seen it and it doesn’t seem available now. There are a few details of it on IMDB.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421479/

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "I was really hoping to see an adaptation of North and South after our group read last spring. I found one from the 80's(?) listed that I was unable to access.

There is the 2004 BBC adaptation of "..."


Thanks Michael, I'll try to find that one!

MichaelK19thCFan wrote: "I wish there was an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's "Villette"."

I wholeheartedly agree with this! Quirky novel, but was such a comfort read for me. It would be interesting to see how this translates on screen, since much of it seems ambiguous and up to the interpretation of the reader. Somehow, otherworldly in a sense, like a fever dream. Or maybe that was just my experience.